EY honored with top Microsoft recognition for customer relationship management and work in blockchain

-- EY named 2018 Consulting and Systems Integration Partner of the year

-- Further recognition received for work in services for child welfare

LONDON, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- EY announces that it has been selected as a member of the prestigious 2018-2019 Inner Circle for Microsoft Dynamics and has also been awarded the Microsoft 2018 Consulting & SI Drive Partners Award for work in blockchain.

Membership in the Inner Circle is based on sales achievements, with EY ranked as one of the leading Microsoft alliances. Inner Circle members have performed to a high standard of excellence by offering valuable services that help organizations achieve increased success.

EY, Guardtime, A.P. Møller-Maersk, Microsoft and insurance industry leaders Willis Towers Watson, XL Catlin, MS Amlin and ACORD announced that members of the marine industry are using Insurwave, a blockchain platform to support marine hull insurance. Insurwave, built by a joint venture between EY and Guardtime, will support more than half a million automated ledger transactions and help manage risk for more than 1,000 commercial vessels in the first year.

EY was also honored for the Citizen Intelligence Solution and the application to child welfare from more than 2,600 entrants across 115 countries worldwide. The solution was built on the back of the work EY is delivering in Australia, New Zealand and UKI. Supported by Microsoft technologies, the solution is currently helping governments around the world in the area of child welfare, but other potential use cases include drug abuse and opioid addiction, homelessness and domestic violence. The platform gathers information from multiple critical data sources – justice, welfare, police, social services, health care – to provide rapid insights into individual cases. With a detailed view of each vulnerable child, decision making is timely, responsive and focused on real, long-term results.

"The EY and Microsoft alliance jointly develops innovative digital solutions that drive long-lasting client value. These distinguished awards recognize the value, focus on innovation and exceptional use of Microsoft's digital technologies that EY brings to help EY clients reap the benefits of digital transformation. We will continue to bring exciting new solutions to market that leverage the combined strengths of our organizations."

"We are delighted to welcome EY into the elite 2018/2019 Inner Circle in recognition of their deep commitment to our customers and dedication to business excellence. The 2018 Consulting and Systems Integration Partner of the Year award recognizes how our jointly-developed innovative blockchain-based solution helps to improve client satisfaction and enhances compliance. We're thrilled to work with EY in a trusted alliance that leverages EY technology and finance knowledge with the technology leadership of Microsoft."

The EY and Microsoft alliance combines deep EY insights and experience in disruptive industry trends, new business models and evolving processes with Microsoft's scalable, enterprise cloud platform and digital technologies. Together, EY and Microsoft are collaborating to help accelerate digital strategy and make it a reality for enterprises to thrive in a digital world.

Recently, EY announced blockchain initiatives with Microsoft including a blockchain solution for content rights and royalties management; the world's first marine insurance blockchain platform; blockchain for automotive services and a suite of blockchain audit technologies that enhances the ability to perform an in-depth review of cryptocurrency business transactions.

EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

This news release has been issued by EYGM Limited, a member of the global EY organization that also does not provide any services to clients.